Why do we sneeze and how far does it travel? Scientist reveals facts behind phenomenon

WHY WE sneeze and how far sneezes travel are questions everyone has asked themselves at one time or another.

Now DIY Science have created a video to reveal the answers to the questions about this common occurrence.

In a video posted to YouTube, the team asked "How far away should you stand to stay safe from a sneeze?"

The clip starts with a man sneezing on a woman next to him, and the voiceover says: "During flu and cold season, you might notice a lot of sneezing going on - viruses like those that cause colds and influenza rely on sneezes as a sneaky way to spread.

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Also known as the winter vomiting bug - when people are ill with vomiting and diarrhoea, it's important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Young children and the elderly are especially at risk

The results were definitive - the thin sneezes travelled a much greater distance than the ticker ones.

Larger droplets spray an average of two metres, whereas smaller ones can spray up to eight metres.

This means you would have to stand over eight metres away to ensure you don't get hit.

Obviously, if the person sneezing covers their mouth then that stops the sneeze hitting those around them, and as long as they wash their hands afterwards, will stop the spread of germs.